Every day, library workers help communities grow and thrive—whether it’s through finding a far-flung resource deep in the archives for a student’s research project, recommending a new picture book for a child, or hosting engaging author events, workshops, and film screenings for patrons. They connect people with books, material, and information that can change their lives.
And every year since 2004, the American Library Association (ALA) has celebrated librarians, support staff, and others for their valuable contributions on National Library Workers Day (NLWD), which this year falls on Tuesday, April 10.
The American Library Association–Allied Professional Association (ALA–APA) asked patrons throughout the US to nominate stellar library workers for their hard work, dedication, and expertise. Here are some of the many nominations honoring library workers in the Galaxy of Stars on ALA’s NLWD website.
“Manuel Aguilar, from a public library in Calhoun, Georgia, does so much to help our library reach the underserved in our community. He helps teach ESOL classes and provide community outreach. He always does each assignment with a smile on his face. You can’t be around Manuel without being affected by him calm and gentle spirit. He is such an asset to our team and to our community.”—Nyala
“Viktoria Alexander, from a public library in Covington, Louisiana, has been at the library every summer since she was 12. She is a paid member of the staff now (in the summers) and even comes in to volunteer in her free time during the school year.”–Anonymous
“Michelle Brogan, from a public library in Austin, Texas, is very involved with the hearing-impaired community. She wants to make sure they feel included in everything. She has taken it upon herself to take sign-language classes and has started a sign-language storytime. She has even taught the staff a few necessary library-related signs. The hearing-impaired community, as well as the staff, are very fortunate to have Brogan, as she is called, as a member of our library.”–Becky
“Jackie Howarth, from a public library in Fincastle, Virginia, is the children’s librarian serving three libraries. She has provided engaging storytime for many years, touching countless young lives and impressing upon them the importance of reading. Families throughout our county know Miss Jackie. She works tirelessly providing stories, crafts, and summer reading programs that cannot be beaten. We are so very fortunate to have her working for the citizens of Botetourt County.”–Rhonda
“Ady Huertas, from a public library in San Diego, California, has brought amazing programs and events to an otherwise underserved Latinx community and founded a binational conference to better serve Spanish-speaking communities. She cares deeply for the community, and it shows in everything she does. Ady has been a wonderful mentor and is one of the reasons I want to become a librarian.”–Luz+
“Rita Johnson, from an academic library in Hickory, North Carolina, is always ready to consider new ideas and to provide support and encouragement to library staff that allows them to provide outstanding service to the library’s patrons. After nearly 40 years in the profession, Rita has retained her sense of excitement for libraries and librarianship and is a true role model for others. She will be retiring this year and will very much be missed!”– Dawn
“Melanie Miller, from a public library in Alfred, New York, is a tireless advocate of reading and community programs for all ages. She is excellent (genius!) at securing grants to serve our rural area. She is a caring and friendly and much-loved presence in our community.”– Sarah
“Megan McNichol, from a special library in Bangor, Maine, has 16 years’ experience working in hospital libraries and works with a wide range of clinicians, including physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and students. She has been teaching PubMed for many years in addition to assisting patients and families research health information via MedlinePlus. For the last two years, she’s been managing the Hadley Parrot Health Science Library at Eastern Maine Medical Center and has provided the highest level of service possible, even after losing half her staff to budget cutbacks. Megan is motivated, takes pride in working in a library setting, and loves connecting information with patrons.” —Anonymous
“Scott Noblitt, from a public library in Sugar Grove, Illinois, takes time with each patron to learn their name and always lets them know what is going on at the library now and all month long. He is better than our newsletter; if you ask our patrons, ‘How did you find out about this program?’ 99% of the time they say, ‘Oh, Scott told me.’ Thank you, Scott—you are a great asset to the library.”– Anonymous
